By Alison Colman
On October 10, the Elmhurst College women’s tennis team took sixth place at the CCIW Championships after injuries and sickness caused the ‘Jays top singles and doubles competitors to drop out.
“The team this year was a dedicated and hard working group of athletes, but injuries and sickness plagued us at the end,” said head coach Anthony McPherson.
The ‘Jays finished two points in front of Millikin University, the only CCIW opponent the ‘Jays beat this season.
At number one singles sophomore Virginia Dallman injured her shoulder and ended up withdrawing from the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Tournament after her first match.
At number two singles, junior Shannon Dale came down with something the day before the tournament and withdrew from her first match as well.
Coincidentally, Dallman and Dale are also the Bluejays’ top doubles competitors at No. 1 doubles.
“This left us in a tough situation for No. 1 doubles,” said McPherson. “We were five and two in conference at No. 1 doubles and this put them as the three seed out of seven teams at No. 1 doubles. To prevent further injury and sickness we decided it was in the girls’ best interest to withdraw.”
Sophomore Emily Tarlini took the only singles victory for the ‘Jays, earning a 6-1, 6-0 win in a playback match at the No. 6 singles spot.
Seniors Donna McKinney and Blaire Hufford recorded the only doubles win for EC with a win at No. 2 doubles.
“All in all it was a tough tournament as a team to stay positive, but these women have the smarts and great attitudes to rise above it all in order to have fun and stay positive at the conference tournament,” said McPherson.
The ‘Jays finished their 2009 season with an overall record of 3-7 and a CCIW record of 1-5.
The Bluejays will lose Hufford and McKinney to graduation next season.
“In order for our team to improve and be competitive for this year and years to come, I have decided to have a spring season for the women’s team,” said McPherson. “This is something women’s tennis has never done before, so look for us to play five to eight matches this spring.”